Electrosorption purification system with battery driven regeneration

Abstract

The invention provides an electronic domestic appliance (1000) comprising a decalcifying apparatus (1) for purifying an aqueous liquid, wherein the electronic domestic appliance (1000) comprises an electronic connector (110) for connecting to an external AC power source wherein the electronic connector (110) is functionally coupled with the DC power supply (100), the electronic domestic appliance (1000) further comprising a functional element (1600) wherein purified aqueous liquid is applied and / or stored.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to a decalcifying apparatus. The invention further relates to an electronic domestic appliance comprising such decalcifying apparatus.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Electrochemical treatments of fluids are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 8,562,803, for instance, describes a fluid treatment apparatus for treating a fluid which apparatus comprises an electrochemical cell having fluid orifices to receive and release fluid, and a fluid passageway connecting the orifices with a water-splitting ion exchange membrane which is exposed to the fluid in the passageway. First and second electrodes are positioned about the membrane. The apparatus also comprises a controller to control and operate a power supply and valve system. The power supply supplies a current to the first and second electrodes at sufficiently high current density to result in bacteriostasis, deactivation, or a reduction in the microorganisms in the fluid. The controller ca...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text suggests adding a rechargeable battery to an appliance to allow for automatic regeneration when the device is switched off by the user. This makes the device cordless as the battery can be used to regenerate the electrosorption cell during purification. The battery can also provide lower current during purification to reduce power surges and costs. The patent also describes an ion generating element that can be moved relative to the electrodes to either not interfere during purification or to help during regeneration. This allows for a reduction in the required current for the DC power supply, which has performance requirements. The ion generating element can be interposed in the electrolytic cell section only in the second operating condition or always. The interposed electrode acts as an ion generating element and helps ensure that the electrolysis reactions occur on the interposed electrode and not on the other electrodes.

Problems solved by technology

Scale formation, also known as calcification, is an issue in many household appliances that use water, in particular hard tap water.

Repeated use of these household appliances causes a build up of scale which can dramatically reduce the efficiency or quality of the function provided by the appliance.

Consequences of failing to descale devices may include, for example, formation of scale in coffee makers blocking the fluid flow or insulating the heating element.

In steam irons scaling may lead to brownish coloured water being spat onto garments.

Furthermore, hard tap water used in air humidifiers based on ultrasonic transducers may spread white scaling dust.

However, the resins replace calcium and magnesium ions in water with sodium ions, which makes the treated water very sodium rich.

Sodium rich water is generally not suitable for making tea, soy milk or diluting powder baby milk.

A disadvantage of the conventional electrosorption batch process is that during regeneration mode there is no (purified) water supply to the application.

So for instance, when embedded in a coffee maker or steam iron, this means that the user will have to wait for the regeneration process to be completed before being able to continue with ironing or brewing coffee.

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